Rather than focusing on the socio economic challenges of ageing  and the burden on health and social care systems, North East political and business leaders see the potential advantages of an ageing population. Following the World Health Organisation’s thinking, “countries can afford to get old if governments, international organizations and civil society enact active ageing policies and programmes that enhance the health, participation and security of older citizens” the North East has shown a desire to embed age friendliness into the fabric of the city to improve regional competitiveness.

For example, businesses in the city that become more age friendly will attract not only more older people but others too,  more age friendly layout and design will bring more older people (with money) to the city centre to spend it. Transportation is a vital element to getting around and is used to a large degree by older people. How can services be better joined up and easier to use for all? If opportunities for socialising and getting out and about are available this will reduce loneliness and isolation and
have a knock on effect on health services i.e. reducing the burden on care. How can improvements in design and layout be built into strategies for the city and region? What is already being done that can be built upon?

The focus on an ‘All Age City’ ties in with the NewcasteGateshead 1Plan, which is guided by 4 ‘Big Moves’ (knowledge economy, skills and talent, urban core, sustainable urbanism). These address headline issues and establish strategic direction over the next 20 years. Big Move number 3 focuses on the ‘Urban Core’ and the development of compelling reasons for developers, investors, businesses and residents to choose the urban core to work, live, shop etc. 

“We will pioneer a new model of sustainable urbanism. By encouraging people and businesses to return to the urban core, delivering the best in public transport and giving streets back to the people…”

According to the Urban Core Area Action Plan (Jan 2011) the aim is to “Improve urban living, transport and accessibility, the environment around us, public open spaces and tackle climate change”. The goal is a return to the core as a preferred location for economic, commercial and residential development. 

Alongside this ‘Big Move’ sits a need to make the urban core equitable and accessible for all. If the region wants to attract a demographic mix of people to the urban core it needs to focus on issues such as mobility, transportation and accessibility. 
Focusing on these issues will be necessary not only to increase the attractiveness of the urban core to older people and those with disabilities but also in terms of the region’s economic prosperity. 

In fact Key Step 9: Places and Spaces within the 1Plan highlights the actions over the next 3 to 5 years to bring forward a programme of placemaking interventions, projects that will make NewcastleGateshead more legible and a more attractive place to live, work and visit. Some of the key actions include a new gateway to NewcastleGateshead, transforming the entrance to  Central Station and Neville Street into a people-friendly public
space. 

Key Step 10: Complete Mobility aligns economic competitiveness with mobility. The actions under this key step highlight the importance of mobility in the modern world. Within the next 3-5 years the 1Plan partners intend to develop a movement strategy for the urban core with priority given to walking, cycling and energy efficient shuttle buses in the heart of the urban core. Technology also plays a role in this key step looking at applications that make NewcastleGateshead a Smart City out of choice rather than compulsion.